DAVENPORT, Neb. (DTN) -- A pilot insurance program for growers of alfalfa hybrid seed has recently become a permanent insurance program through the federal crop insurance program.

Dave Paul, Director of the RMA Spokane Regional Office, told DTN the Risk Management Agency has run the alfalfa hybrid seed insurance program as a pilot program since 2002. The pilot program covered 27,700 acres of land and $27.9 million in liability in 2013.

"The purpose of the pilot program was to see if the new program would work," he said. "It was determined that the program does work and the agency decided ...